Electrolytic apparatus.



, UMTED sin and a resident of Sault Provlnce of Ontario and Dominion of Can- 45, the periphery 55 with t Within the-chamber B anidge A* proJects PATENT FFI@ i BRoDDE E. F. RHODIN, 'or sAUL'iLsrE. MARIE, ONTARIO, CANADA.'

ELEcTRoLYTIc APPARATUS.

'To all whom 'it may concer/n:-

.1 Be it known that I, BRoDDE vRHO- DIN, a subject of theKing of Great Britain,

' ada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Electrolytic Apparatus, of

, Whlch the following is a specificatlon.

Y,My invention relates to an apparatus adapted for carrying out variouselectrolytic processes and particularly the formation of caustic soda and chlorin by the decombsition of brine, that is a' solution of sodium chlorid.

The apparatus', in which I employ a merode, which is kept. in motion by a cury cat `circulation of the mercury, is designed more particularly to produce a very large surface of mercury ama gam in the combining chamv ber and .to continuously renew said surface.

`'lhefeatures of my invention will be fully described hereinafter and,its characteristic points of novelty defined in the appended y clmpfs. v I y R erenceis to b had to the accompanyingvdrawings in which Figure'l 1s' a sectional elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention, taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;" Fig. 2is a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. y3 is a detailed section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a detailed erspective view of the lunger member, 'w 'ch inthe constructions ownv is the means employed for causing the mercury to circulate, and Fig. 5 is a detail view of a yportion-of the anode.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings.l comprises a cell or tank'A,

preferably made of condgcti'ng' material, and in this casefcon- 40 nectedwith the negative pole `of a source of electric current. The-bottonixof this tank is inclined and is formed'with a series of annular ridges A located iii tiers, the ridge nearest the center bei lowest and the ridges near 'ghest. At the center the tank Ais provided with a depression or collecting chamber A2 in whichthe mercury collects after fiowing over the lowest ridge A". lAlong the peri heryis located an annular chamber B, whrc is formed by an interior rim A*i supported at suitable points from the bottom of the tank, so as to leave at the bottom of said rim spaces or assages throughk which the decom ositionc amberB may'con'nnunicate Ee combining .chamber C' of the tank.

Specification of Letters lIEatent. y 'Appllic'ation ledfOctober 30, l1906, Serial iNo. 341,273.

te. Marie, in the `higher level than the 'tact with the mercury.

f the collecting chamber A2.

Patented April 21, 1908.

upwardly from the bottom of the tank, thel level of said'ridge being about the same as that of the lower edge of the im A3 while the outermost ridge A projects toa slightly Thus the rim A? forms a seal for the mercury.

passing from the decom osition chamber B.. to the combining chamv er C. Within the decomposition chamber `is located theV posi-f` in Fig. 1, andsupported upon insulating linsaid linings forming -a slot for the passage ofthe anode and shoulders adjacent to the slot, to engage the horizontal member of the anode. Preferably these linings have their inner walls converging upwardly as shown toward the depending member of the anode, Which memberl prefer to make with a series of vertical lslits or saw cuts ,D. The lower end of the anode shouldbe some distance above the level of the outermost 'and highest ridge Aso that the anode will not be in conridge A4' arelocated the discharge ends of circulatinl 'channels A which lead upwardly from t e collecting chamber A2 to the peripheral chamber B.

.60 ower edge of said rim.

,65v tive electrode D which may consist of a carbon ring T-shaped 1n cross-section as shown Exteriorly of the In order to bring about the circulation of the mercury I provide a lunger F mounted to reciprocate 1n the col ecting chamber A2 and provided with arms F1 which extend into an annular chamber A7 at the bottom of In' one position, the arms F1, as shown in Fig. l close the lower ends of the channels A", but when the pluni ger is. given a quarter turn the channels A connect with the collectingl chamber A2.

The plunger is connected with a shaft Gr mounted torotate in a bearing Hand in a in I at the lower end of the connecting rod g. This rod is also connected with la crank 10ol `K1 upon the shaft K which receives power in l anysuitable manner, as'fo'r instance by means of a belt applied' to the ulley K2. The shaft G not on y turns inthe earmg H but is-also ca able of sliding therein length- Wise, the said legs Hl within the tank which legs also carry the standards Hi in which the shaft K is journaled.l Of course, the shafts G and K il, 11.0. in any othersuitable manner.- Qn y v.the shaft K 1s located a bevel pinion Ka mesnand the (parts'connected therein might be supporte bearing being supported byy ing with of above the same.

` the channels A6.

- pinion M yinto the apparatus to the ridges A and A4 pole edge of the rim A* a similar pinion L1 on a shaft L, the lower end of whlch carries the mutilated gear L2. This gear meshes at times with a connected withI the shaft .Gr so astb' always rotate therewith, for instance by means of a key G', but a sliding movement of the shaft G `within the pinion is allowed, the

inion being held against vertical movement,

or instance by means of a stop N. O indicates the pipe for su tank with the brine or other treated; l? is the pipe for carrying 0H the caustic soda formed; Q is the pipe for the escape of the chlorin and R is the pipe for the removal of brine. i

The anodeD may be made in sections as indicated in Fig. 2.

In operation suiiicient mercury is poured fill the space between and some mercury is also poured into the'central collecting champer A2. The decomposition chamber B is then also lled with brine on top of the mercury and the combining chamber C with iguid to be plying thel water, for instance to the level indicated inv Fig. 1. The tank itself is connected with the negative pole, the anode D with the positive of a dynamo or other source of electricity. l need not here givedetails of the chemical reaction as the same 1s well known and no novelty is claimed for it. During the o eration the shaft K is rotated so that the p unger F will be reci rocated up and down and also given partia turns at the end of the upstroke land also at the end of the downstroke. Fig. 1 shows the position of the parts at the end of the downstroke, and the plunger F has just'been turned in such a manner that the arms F* close the lower ends of the channels A6. Theplunger now moves u ward and the mercury contained in the eo lecting chamber A2 passes through channels A8 at the side of said chamber, and while remaining in said chamber,` is thereby placedbeneath the plunger instea The channels 8 should reach down to about the lowest point which the lower surface of the plunger reaches. When the plunger F has attained its highest position, the mutilated gear L2 will give 'the plunger a quarter turn thus bringing the arms .F1 out of registry with' the channels A'but into registry witi the channels A8. The .movement o the mercury from above the plunger to below it is thus arrested and the collecting chamber A2 and the chamber A7 are connected with As the plunger F now moves downward, the mercury contained inthe chambers beneath the plunger is forced through the channels A sition chamber B of the apparatus. mercury fiows inwardly over the-ridge A", passes throughthe seal formed by the lower and fiows over the ridges into the decom of s.

licitcy iqui circulating A thus again reaching the collecting cham! berAz. In this manner the mercury is con-- stantly circulated, passing inwardly over the tiers of ridges A and outwardly through the return channels A".

Of course, where l have s oken of mercury, this has been done for t ie sake oi' sim- Fas a matter of fact, of course, the at the bottom of the cell and returning through the channels A is not pure mercury after the operation has been started,but a mixture'of mercury and sodium amalgam. The term mercury ns used in some of the claims, is therefore not lo be given any restrictive or literal interpretation. l desire also to call particular attention toithe rovision of two entirely separate paths for t e circulating cathode liquid, the return path formed by the channels A being separate from the downward path of the cathode liquid; yet in the referred form nl' my invention as shown, bot i )aths are. within the walls of the tank, so that there is no danger .of leakage.

As a means for pro elling the cathode, liquid,I l have here siown la reciprocating plunger which at the same time forms a valve arranged to. turn periodically l desire it to .be understood, however, that other devices may be em loyed for effecting the circulation of the iquid.

l claim;

1. A cell for electrolytic processes, having a series of concentric retaining ridges arranged stepwise each of said ridges being separate from the others. y 2. An electrolytic cell having a series of retaining ridges arranged one within the other and step-wise, each ridge being continuous and separate from the others.

-3. An electrolytic cell having an imperforate bottom with entirelv se arate retaining ridges projecting there rom stepwise.

4. An electrolytic cell having a series of endless retaining ridges arranged one within the other and ste wise, said Icell being provided with a coll) channel leading from said. chamber to another portionof the cell, and means for propelling mercury through said channel.

5. An electrolytic cell having a series of retaining ridges arranged one within the other and ste wise, the outer ridges being higher than tie inner ones, said cell being provided witha central collectin(r chamber, a return channelleading from sai chamber to the peripheral portion of the cell, and means for propelling mercurythrough said channel.

6. Anelectrolytic cell having a series, of entirely separate retaining ridges arranged one within the other. and step-wise.

. 7. An electrolytic cell havin a partition eritendin 4to apoint within a s ort distance from the ottom of `the cell and dividing the into twov compartments located f stepwise in the lower compartment,- the up-l into two compartments located levels,

'compartment' with cell into communicating inner land outer compartments, a ridgelocated within theinner compartment an 'of the lower'edge of said seal, and electrod'es'in sai compartments.

8. An' electrolytic cell having acentral combining compartment and an annular de-i composition compartment surroundingf it,-

ridges arranged step-wise in the central compartment, I a channel connecting the lower portion of said compartment with the decomposition compartment, andfa retaining ridge arranged within the decomposition compartment adjacent. to the orifice of said channel.

- 9. An electrolyticcell having a spaced from the bottom and divi cell into two compartments locatedvat different levels, a return channel connecting the two compartments, and a retaining ridge ing the located in the higher compartment adjacent to the oriiice of said channel.

10. An electrolytic cell having a partition spaced from the bottom and dividing the cell `into .two

compartments located at different levels, a

return channel connecting the two a series of ridges arranged a retaining ridge located in the higher 4compalrtment adj acentto' the orice of said channe. l

11. An electrolytic cell having a partition spacedfro'm the bottom and dividing the cell at different levels, a return channel connectingthe two compartments, and aseries of ridges arranged ste wise in the' lower compartment.

12. An e ectrolytic cell having a'partition spaced from the bottom and`dividingthe cell into two compartments-located at different levels, a return channel connectirfgthe two compartments, and a'series of ridges arranged permost of these ridges extending to a level above that of the lower` ed e of the partition.

13. An electrolytic Celli spaced from the bottom and dividing the cell at different a return channel connecting the two compartments, a series of ridges arranged stepwise in the lower compartment, the up-l permost of these ridges extending to a level above that of the lower edge of and a retainingridge located in t e higher compartment adjacent to the' orifice of' said channel. v 4

14. An electrolyticcell having an annular electrode compartment with insulating liningsinclosing a space which widens towards.

the bottom, and an electrodefdipping into said space. l I 15. An electrolytic cell having an electrode mg a space which widens ltoward .the bottom, and forming a slot with-shoulders adjacent artition aving a partition the artition,l

culating passa insulatmg llmngs inclosed in crossers and d1 ing into said space through the slot of t e (partition to forma hn 16g-An `electrolytic cell having within its walls two separate yet connected paths for the circulation of-a li uid cathode electrode which aths are entire the celll.)

17. An electrolytic cell havinga do'wn-y `ward path for a liquid cathode electrode and a separate upward return path for said liquid electrode connected -wit said downward path both pathsbeing'l'ocated interiorly of the cells outer surface.

18. An' electrolytic cell having two se arate yet connected paths for' the circulation of a liquid cathode electrode, both paths being located interiorly of the cell's outer surface -and a device for propelling the liquid cathode electrode.v

'-1-9. An electrolytic cell having a downward passage` or a liquid cathode electrode, a separate upward path for the return of the liquid electrode, both paths being located interiorly of the cells outer surface and a device for y within the walls of 4 propelling the liquid through said return path. 20. An electrolftic cell ltiaving a downward I assage lfor a quid cathode electrode, ormedwith a collecting chamber at the bottom of said passage 4and a supply channel leading to said chamber, a return` channel leading from said chamber to the upper portion of the said passage, and a plunger mounted to reciprocate in said chamber and also mounted to turn, said plunger having a valve member or arm which in one position closes the connection from the supply channel to the collecting chamber and 1n the other osition closes the connection of said cham er with the return channel, and means for reciprocating and turning said plunger.

2 1. An electrolytic cell having a downward' path for a liquid cathode electrode, a return channel leading from the lower ortion of said path to its upper portion, an a plunger mounted to reci rocate to pro el the liquid electrode periodically througi its return channel, said plu er being also mounted to turn at predetermined stages ofits reciproeating -movement and forming a valve to open or close the inlet to the return channel. 22.' An electrolytic cell having a substantially conical bottom with entirely separate ri ges arranged stepwise and 'an independent circulatin passage connecting the central portion o said bottom with its peripheral portion.

23. An electrolytic cellhaving a substantially conical bottom with ridges projecting therefrom stepwise, and an independent cire located entirely within the bottom wall o the cell and connecting the central portion of the bottom with the peripheral portion thereof. 1

l 5 central `pofrtionof` the'bottom with the pe- Witnesses:

ripheral portion thereof.

24. An eleotrolytic cell. hlv'ng a, subtarlfs'gned my name inthe nresenoe 'of two subtilally conical bottom angeln indlependlt c?- sorbing Witnesses. v c ating passage ouate lentire y Weit 'n t e v .f bottom Wall of the 'Celi andjconncti'ng the BRODDE FRHODN JOHN G. REID,

In testimony'vwhereof I have hereunto v ARTHUR E. BnoWN'. 

